Authorities say a dog that bit and critically injured a 1-year-old boy in Evergreen has been euthanized.

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office says the 70-pound American Bulldog was "humanely euthanized at the request of the owner." A sample from the dog will be tested to rule out the possibility of rabies.

The little boy was bitten on the head Tuesday, and airlifted from the home to an area hospital.

The sheriff's office asked for compassion for the family, acknowledging they were simultaneously dealing with their child's injuries and the loss of their family pet.

"Nothing easy about any of this. Patience and compassion would serve everyone well," the sheriff's office said in a tweet Saturday morning.

KKTV firmly believes in freedom of speech for all and we are happy to provide this forum for the community to share opinions and facts. We ask that commenters keep it clean, keep it truthful, stay on topic and be responsible. Comments left here do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of KKTV 11 News.

If you believe that any of the comments on our site are inappropriate or offensive, please tell us by clicking “Report Abuse” and answering the questions that follow. We will review any reported comments promptly.

Online Public Information File

Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or fccinfo@fcc.gov.